IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


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Sciences 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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■i 


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n 


Coloured  covers/ 
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I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
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Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


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The 
po* 
oft 
film 


Ori| 
beg 
the 
aion 
othi 
firal 
aior 
or  II 


Tha 

ahal 
TINI 
whi 

Maf 
diffi 
anti 
bagi 
righ 
raqi 
mat 


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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indlqu*  ci-deaaous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


J 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


a4X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmMl  h»n  hM  lM«n  r«prodvc«d  thanks 
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L'oxomplairo  filmA  ffut  roproduit  grAco  A  la 
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Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  fllmad 
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shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^^  (moaning  "CON- 
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whichavar  applias. 

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filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plot,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  teux  de  rAduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grsnd  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clichA.  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'engle  supArieur  geuche.  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bes.  sn  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  8  6 


^"^mm 


I 


Charles  and  «   *  * 
-•   *  ^  •"  HIS  Lamb 


Wrllteri  for  th-*  i.ittk  Ones 
•.>»  the  House'iokl 


n\  Mar<'h.m.i   Saunders 

4;:ihi>r  of  "  Ufiauuliil  joe" 


•^;-. 
^^--.' 


) 


Phitadelpiiia 

CHARl.LS   H    HANHS 

i8u-, 


rsrmmmm 


r 


1; 


1^ 


Charles  and  ^  .<  ^ 
"*•*•*  -^  HIS  Lamb 


Written  for  the  Little  Ones 
of  the  Household 


BY  Marshall  Saunders 

Author  of  "  Beautiful  Joe  " 


1: 


Philadelphia 
CHARLES  H    BANES 

1895 


"T", 


w^jia 


Copyright  1895  hy 
Ghorge  H.  Buchanan  &  Company 


Prefatory  Note 

George  T.  Angell.  when  requested  to  define  the 
object  of  the  Bands  of  Mercy,  replied,  "To  teach 
and  lead  every  child  and  older  person  to  seize  every 
opportunity  to  say  a  kind  word,  or  do  a  kind  act 
that  will  make  sonrie  other  human  being  or  some 
dumb  creature  happier." 

The  engaging,  interesting  life  of  a  little  child, 
its  infantile  reasonings,  its  imaginative  world  filled 
with  tiny  but  wonderful  mental  pictures,  are  too 
soon  obscured  by  f<  coming  years  of  the  maturing 
life.  Truly  the  Apostle  said  :  IV/wii  I  wax  j  child  I 
spake  as  j  child,  !  felt  ^\  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child : 
now  that  I  am  become  a  man,  I  have  put  away  childish 
things. 

The  utterance  of  the  Apostle  is  especially  in- 
tended to  illustrate  and  confast  human  knowledge 
in  its  infancy  with  the  wider  range  and  enlarged 
development  of  after  years.  There  are  influences 
of  childhood  that  never  grow  less.  The  kingly 
law  of  love  can  manifest  its  benign  sway  over 
the  life  of  the  little  prattler  and  enlarge  its  control 
through  the  gentle  leading  of  the  mother,  thus 
continuing  its  dominion  in  the  mind  until  habits  are 
formed  that  inspire  the  life  in  its  contact  with 
humanity.  This  is  manifest  to  every  thoughtful 
observer  of  child-life. 


In  the  biography  of  "Beautiful  Joe."  Miss 
Saunders  has  emphasized  this  truth,  and  demon- 
strated in  her  happy  way,  that  children  may  be 
trained  by  home  influence  to  be  gentle  and  tender 
to  others,  and  merciful  to  dumb  creatures. 

In  "Charles  and  his  Lamb,"  Miss  Saunders 
has  presented  for  little  folks,  sketches  and  scenes 
in  the  real  life  of  a  baby  boy,  and  the  story  of  the 
influences  of  a  little  child  whose  kindness  of  heart 
and  love  for  animals  is  prettily  shown.  His  innocent, 
artless  life,  so  full  of  love,  imparts  its  healthy  in- 
fluence to  his  childish  associates  and  playmates, 
becoming  a  living  spring  of  perennial  beauty. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  glimpse  of  child-life, 
with  its  setting  of  love,  may  awaken  in  the  hearts 
of  the  children  for  whom  it  has  been  written  a 
desire  to  manifest  those 

"  Little  deeds  of  kindness,  little  words  of  love  " 

that 
"Make  our  earth  an  Eden  like  the  heaven  above." 

CHARLES    H.  BANES 


s=^^ 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 


f  ntrodudiifl  tbc  Xamb 


u 


CHAPTER  II 


^be  3Qnb^  and  t)id  |>et0 


17 


CHAPTER  III 


^be  Quarrelsome  (Sueet 


29 


CHAPTER  IV 


B  IDiett  to  tbe  l^oo 


39 


CHAPTER  V 


C;bc  Strae  Xamb 


47 


CHAPTER  VI 


Searcbfnfl  for  tbe  Xost  ©ne  6i 


CHAPTER  VII 

^OBtul  1?eturn 


69 


tjHAPTER    1 

1Intro^ucino  tbc  Xamb 


i 


Introducing^  the  Lamb 


N  the  centre  of  a  wide,  green  lawn  at 

the  back  of  a  pretty  country  house 

stood   a    tiny    white-frocked    child 

talking  to  a  lamh 

"  Lamb,"  he  said,  holding  a  bit  of  cake  an 

inch  from  the  snowy  creature's  nose,  "  Charles 

is  glad  to  see  you." 

The  lamb  looked  into  the  charming  baby 
face  so  near  his  own  and  murmured  an  apprecia- 
tive "  Ma-a-a." 

"  Lamb,"  the  child  went  on  slowly,  "  Charles 
loves  you,"  and  with  his  little  heart  overflowing 
with  affection  toward  his  new  playfellow,  he 
threw  both  arms  round  its  neck. 

The  lamb  was  considerably  taken  aback,  yet 
in  the  midst  of  his  surprise  he  recovered  himself 
enough  to  secure  the  piece  of  cake,  which  he 
ate  with  great  satisfaction. 

•'  Come,"  said  the  child,  at  the  conclusion  of 


12 


INTRODUCING    THE   LAM'B 


a  somewhat  prolonged  caress  ;  *•  Charles  has 
something  to  show  you." 

He  srized  the  rope  hanging  to  the  lamb's 
neck,  and,  toddling  over  the  grass,  led  him 
behind  a  small  and  beautifully  green  arbor. 

There,  under  the  shade  of  a  tree,  lay  a  big 
grey  cat  fast  asleep,  his  head  resting  confidingly 
on  the  fluffy  body  of  a  terrier  who  was  snorin«T 
loudly. 

A  shepherd  dog  sat  near  by,  his  watchful 
eyes  going  from  the  dog  and  cat  to  a  pair  of 
white  rabbits  who  were  munching  lettuce  leaves 
and  gazing  placidly  from  between  the  bars  of 
their  hutch. 

"  This  is  Charles'  menag'rie,"  said  the  child 
in  his  sweet  clear  accents;  "Charles  loves 
dogs,  and  mouses  and  bunnies  and  pussy 
cats." 

The  lamb  lowered  his  head  and  pressed  closer 
against  his  new  master  ;  he  did  not  like  the  way 
in  which  the  shepherd  dog  was  snififing  at  his 
wooll)'  sides. 

♦•  Collie  won't  hurt  you,  lambie,"  said  the  child 


) 


M 


INTRODUCING    THE   LAMB 


»3 


gently,  and  he  passed   the  rope   from   his   hands 
into  the  mouth  of  the  dotr. 

The  intelligent  animal  understood  what  his 
young  master  meant — the  lamb  was  to  be  his 
especial  care.  He  gave  a  joyful  muffled  bark, 
frisked  about  on  the  grass,  and  finally  lay  down 
beside  his  new  companion. 

The  cat  was  not  so  ready  to  enlarge  the 
circle  of  his  friends.  He  sprang  up,  elevated 
his  back,  and,  spitting  furiously,  made  terrifying 
faces  at  the  newcomer. 

Jennie,  the  child's  nurse,  who  had  been 
following  him  drew  near,  but  she  was  waved  back. 

"Charles  will  manage,"  said  her  small 
charge,  and  then  he  turned  loving  eyes  toward 
the  cat's  angry  visage. 

"  Don't  be  cross,  Jerry,"  he  said  remonstrat- 
ingly,  "  you  promised  to  be  a  good  cat ;  Charles 
will  have  to  say  verses  to  you,"  and  sittin"-  on 
the  grass  he  repeated  a  childish  rhj'me  which 
had  the  effect  of  drawing  the  penitent  cat  to  his 
arms,  where  he  nestled  in  a  pleased  and  i)urring 
reverie. 


i 


14 


INTRODUCING    THE   LAMB 


"  Now  Charles  is  happy,"  said  the  tiny  boy 
and  he  tried  to  rise,  still  holding  the  cat  firmly 
to  him.  He  could  not  keep  his  balance,  his  little 
feet  caught  in  the  embroidery  of  his  white  skirts, 
and  he  rolled  over  on  the  grass  and  lay  with  his 
laughing  face  upturned  to  the  sky,  his  hands 
brushing  aside  the  eager  noses  of  the  dogs  who 
pressed  forward  to  see  if  he  were  hurt. 

In  the  midst  of  his  frolic  with  them  he  heard 
a  distant  whistle. 

"  It  is  the  train,"  he  cried,  "  Charles'  grand- 
father has  come,"  and,  scrambling  to  his  feet,  he 
trotted  rapidly  across  the  lawn,  followed  tumul- 
tuously  by  the  dogs,  the  cat  and  the  lamb. 


\ 


Chapter  II 

Ube  JSabp  anO  Dis  iPets 


I 


-5;. 


The  Baby  and  His  Pets 


jH,  grandfather,  I'm  just  cwazy  about 
you — arc   you  cwazy  about    me?" 
and     little    Charles    flun<,r    himself 
into  the  arms  of  a  tall  irentleman 
who  was  openin*;-  the  gate. 

What  a  delightful  welcome  for  a  tired  man 
who  had  just  come  from  the  hot  city  !  Colonel 
Vaughan  smiled,  and,  lifting  the  child,  he  carried 
him  up  the  veranda  steps. 

Everybody  on  the  veranda  was  laughing  at 
the  baby,  and,  hearing  the  sound  of  merry  voices, 
he  raised  his  happy  face  from  his  grandfather's 
breast. 

"  What  you  laughing  at?"  he  asked  uneasily. 

Colonel  Vaughan  looked  anxiously  at  the 
little,  sensitive  face,  then  shook  his  head  at  the 
baby's  two  youthful  aunts,  who  immediately 
concealed  their  roguish  glances  behind  palm  leaf 
fans. 


i8 


THli   BABY   ^ND   HIS    PETS 


"  Is  it  'cause  I  said  civazy  f  whispered  the 
child  against  Colonel  Vaiighan's  cheek. 

"  I  suppose  so,  darling." 

Charles  straightened  his  small  figure  and 
turned  to  his  aunts  with  so  curious  an  expres- 
sion on  his  face  that  liis  grandfather,  wishing  to 
know  what  was  passing  in  his  mind,  said,  "  Of 
what  is  my  baby  thinking  ?" 

"  Charles  does  not  wish  to  be  a  baby,"  said 
the  child  distinctly;  "  he  wish  to  be  a  man." 

His  Aunt  Margaret  ran  across  the  veranda 
and  caught  him  to  her.  "  You  sweet  thing,  I  wish 
I  could  keep  you  like  this  forever,  and  always 
hear  your  precious  baby  talk." 

The  child's  gaze  wandered  from  her  up  to  the 
blue  sky  above  them.  Over  his  exquisite  rose- 
leaf  face  passed  one  strange  expression  after 
another.  He  was  struggling  with  thoughts  too 
deep  for  utterance.  Of  the  two  faces,  his  for  a  few 
minutes  wore  the  more  mature  look,  and  his 
grandfather  watched  him  keenly. 

Then  he  became  a  baby  again.  "  Charles  is 
tired,"  he  said,  with  a  pretty  gesture,  and  he  held 


THE  BABY  ^ND  HIS  PETS 


19 


out  his  arms  to  the  stron-  ones  so  often  a  shield 
and  a  covert  to  him  in  his  baby  perplexities. 

"  What  has  my  boy  been  doinir  to-day  ?" 
asked  Colonel  Vaughan,  lookin-  fondly  down  at 
the  little,  thoughtful  face 

"  Charles  has  played  with  his  animals,"  said 
the  child  slowly.  "  Uncle  Robert  is  <roin<r  to 
give  him  three  guinea  pigs." 

"  Three  guinea  pigs,"  echoed  his  grandfather, 
"  they  will  be  a  great  addition  to  your  happy 
family." 

"  Yes,  a  great  'didition,"  said  Charles,  sleepily. 

There  was  a  young  man— a  second  cousin  of 
Charles'  mother— sitting  reading  in  a  shady  cor- 
ner of  the  veranda.      At  the  child's  last  sentence 
he  left  his  seat  and  sauntered  nearer  the  group 
in  the  doorway. 

"  Going  to  sleep,  isn't  he?"  he  said,  survey- 
ing the  white  lids  drooping  over  Charles'  eyes. 
"  He's  tired  himself  out  romping  with  his  play- 
mates. It's  an  odd  thing  that  he  should  be  so 
extravagantly  fond  of  animals." 

"  He    has    been    brought    up    with    them," 


20 


THE   B/tBY  ^ND  HIS  PETS 


returned  Colonel  Vau^han,  "  havin,L(  neither 
brothers  nor  sisters,  we  feared  that  he  might 
become  selfish  if  he  played  alone." 

"  But  do  you  not  think  it  is  a  mistake  to 
allow  children  to  become  so  devoted  to  dumb 
animals  ?  "  said  the  young  man,  "  do  they  not 
champion  the  dumb  and  oppress  the  human  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary,"  said  Colonel  Vaughan, 
"  we  find  that  Charles'  passion  for  dumb  animals, 
and  his  interest  in  them,  make  him  more  tender 
toward  his  fellow-beings,  and  also  more  patient 
with  them.  His  pets  often  provoke  him,  and 
oblige  him  to  learn  self-restraint." 

The  second  cousin  laughed.  "  I  had  a  proof 
of  his  self-control  last  evening.  He  climbed  on 
the  sofa  beside  me  and  begged  for  a  story.  I 
invented  a  tale  of  an  Indian,  who  went  on  foot 
through  the  forest,  and,  having  nothing  to  eat, 
shot  a  deer.  Charles  interrupted  me,  and,  with 
flashing  eyes  and  clinched  fists,  exclaimed,  "  I 
will  shoot  that  Indian."  Then  he  seemed  to 
reflect  and  added,  "  God  will  punish  that  Indian, 
but  Charles  must  forgive  him." 


THE   n/lBY  ^ND   HIS  PETS 


ai 


"I  saw  him,"  returned  Colonel  Vaimhan  • 
"  your  tale  caused  him  a  pang  almost  as  acute  as 
the  one  that  would  pierce  a  dying  animal.  It  is 
almost  impossible  for  us  beings,  of  a  coarser 
mould,  to  understand  the  keenness  and  sharpness 
of  sympathy  that  exists  between  animals  and 
those  who  love  them  deeply.  I  have  seen 
Charles'  flesh  twitch  violently  when  a  horse  is 
whipped.  Mere  baby  that  he  is,  he  seem.s  i 
feel  the  lash  himself." 

It  is  strange,"  said  the  young  man,"  I  think  I 
am  rather  glad  I  don't  feel  the  sufferings  of  the 
lower  orders  of  creatures  as  intensely  as  this 
small  boy." 

*'  The  precious  pet  !  "  said  the  baby's  younger 
aunt,  Miss  Maude,  as  she  fanned  herself  and 
watched  the  sleeping  child.  "  Do  you  remember 
the  day  that  he  laid  aside  the  chicken  bone  he 
was  eating  and  said,  '  little  bone,  I  will  not  take 
the  meat  off  you,  for  you  will  be  so  cold  '  ?  " 

Here  Aunt  Margaret  got  up  to  brush  a  fly 
from  the  baby's  face.  "  He  is  just  the  best  and 
sweetest  child  that  ever  lived.     Nurse  says  that 


-^-  THli   MliY  ^ND  HIS  Pi: IS 

she  can  hardly  get  alonjr  the  street  when  she 
Ljoes  to  the  village  with  him.  He  sits  up  in  his 
perambulator  with  that  fascinating  gleam  in  his 
eye,  antl  every  woman  he  meets  wants  to  kiss 
him.  What  is  it  that  makes  him  so  different 
from  other  children?  I  can't  tell  what  it  is. 
You  ought  to  know,  Eleanor,"  and  she  turned  to 
the  baby's  mother,  who  sat  quietly  smiling,  as 
she  hstened  to  her. 

"  I  think  that  people  love  him  because  he  is 
such  a  high-principled  and  whole-souled  baby," 
Avas  the  soft  reply.  •'  They  see  in  him  the  fore- 
shadowings  of  a  great  and  noble  character.  What 
is  your  opinion  ?  "  and  she  looked  at  her  father- 
in-law.  "  I  believe  that  you  understand  him 
better  than  anyone." 

"  I  think  that  our  baby  possesses  a  share  of 
the  greatest  gift  that  God  can  bestow,"  he  said, 
"and  that  is  love;  his  litde  heait  is  run- 
ning over  with  it.  That  is  the  secret  of  his 
drawing  power,  oth  for  animals  and  human 
beings." 

"If  he  only     ves  to  grow  up,"  sighed  the 


THE  liAliY  ^SD  HIS  PETS 


aj 


mother.      I    sometimes    ^ear    that  we  shall   lose 
hiin  ;  he  is  so  near  perfection." 

Colonel  Vaii<;han  smiled.  "  Do  not  .si)eak  of 
perfection  in  connection  with  our  darling.     He  is 
very  human  with  all  his  sweetness  of  character. 
What    of  his  self-will  or  determination,  as  you 
call  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  but  he  has  such  a  .small  amount  of  it  " 
said  the  mother,  "  not  enough  to  cause  an.xiety." 

Colonel  Vaughan  shook  his  head.  "  I  think 
that  there  is  too  much  for  the  development  of  a 
perfect  character.  Remember  his  assertion  when 
he  was  crossed  for  the  first  time  as  he  was  learn- 
ing to  talk,  '  me  knows  what  me  wants  and  me 
doos  it.'  However,  we  shall  see.  I  suppose  you 
have  remarked  how  earnestly  he  is  trying  to  give 
up  his  babyish  methods  of  expression." 

"Yes,  I  have." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  for  it,"  said  Aunt  Mar- 
garet ;  "  his  broken  language  was  so  sweet." 

"  You  would  not  hinder  the  growth  of  his 
little  body,"  said  her  father,  with  an  amu.sed 
glance  at  her — "why  hinder  the  growth  of  the 


i;    ( 


24 


THE   MBY  ^/VD  HIS  PETS 


mind  ?  Please  steady  that  hammock  till  I  put 
him  in  it.  He  will  be  cooler  there  than  in  my 
arms  ;"  and  he  placed  the  child  in  a  dainty  pink- 
and-gold  nest  swinging  under  a  grapevine. 

"  You  all  idolize  the  chiki,"  said  the  second 
cousin,  with  interest.  "  No  wonder  that  he  is 
good  when  there  is  so  little  to  cross  him.  What 
are  you  going  to  do  when  Wilfred  comes  ?" 

Ah  !  that  was  a  hard  question  to  answer, 
and  ever>  member  of  the  family  circle  looked 
grave. 

"  He  is  the  most  disagreeable  child  that  I 
ever  saw,"  went  on  the  young  man,  "  and  posi- 
tively cruel.  I  once  saw  hiii)  drop  a  cat  from  a 
third-story  window." 

"  I  am  just  as  sorry  as  I  can  be  that  he  is 
coming,"  said  Aunt  Margaret,  impulsively  ;  "  but 
when  we  asked  his  mother  to  visit  us,  we  never 
dreamed  that  she  would  bring  Wilfred." 

*'  It  will  be  a  chance  to  see  if  our  theory 
holds  good,  that  Charles'  intercourse  with  ani- 
mals teaches  him  self-control,"  said  Colonel 
Vaughan. 


I? 


THE   B/IRY   JIND   HIS  PETS 


25 


"  I  believe,"  chimed   in  Aunt  Maude,  "  that 
Charles  will  do  Wilfred  nood  " 

"  If  he  doesn't— if  Wilfred  worries  him,  he 
will  have  to  leave,"  said  Aunt  Margaret,  firmly. 

Colonel  Vaughan  gave  utterance  to  his  favor- 
ite exclamation,  "  We  shall  see,  we  shall  see!" 
and,  spreading  out  his  evening  paper,  he  divided 
his  attention  between  it  and  the  sleeping  child. 


'1 


^1! 


Chapter  III 

Ube  diuarrclsome  Guest 


The  Quarrelsome  Guest 


|T  was  a  very  hot  day,  and  the  baby's 
grandmother,    leaving    the    house, 
walked  slowly  across  the  lawn,  and 
entering    the    arbor,    sank    into    a 
rustic  arm-chair 

For  a  long  time  there  was  entire  stillness 
about  her,  then  the  sound  of  voices  made  her 
turn  her  head. 

Charles  was  to  have  his  tea  on  the  lawn,  and 
the  nurse  was  bringing  out  his  table  and  chair. 

The   little  child   came  toddling  behind    her 
and  after  she  had  put  his  bread  and  milk  before 
him,  she  went  back  to  the  house. 

Mrs.  Vaughan  parted  the  wistaria  leaves  and 

looked  out.  What  a  charming  sight !  The  baby 

alone,  save  for  his  dumb  friends,  who  sat  in  a 
semi-circle  on  the  grass  before  him — had  clasped 
his  pink  finger  tips  and  closed  his  eyes,  and  was 
murmuring  reverently  his  grace  before  meat : 


30 


THE   QU/IRRELSOME   GUEST 


"  God  is  great  and  God  is  good, 
And  we  thank  Him  :or  our  food  ; 
By  His  hand  let  all  be  fed : 
Give  us,  Lord,  our  daily  bread.     Amen." 

The  verse  being  said  he  tied  his  bib  about  his 
neck,  and,  looking  graciouslv  on  the  do^rs  the 
cat  and  the  lamb,  who  were  respectfully  watch- 
ing him,  he  offered  them  in  turn  bits  of  bread 
dipped  in  milk,  which  they  came  forward  politely 
to  receive. 

A  slight  breeze  stirred  the  warm  atmosphere 
and  lifted  rings  of  the  child's  curly  auburn  hair. 
At  ir.tervals  he  raised  his  beautiful  black  eyes 
and  gazed  in  placid  satisfaction  on  his  surround- 
ings. He  was,  indeed,  a  lovely  child,  and  the 
woman  hidden  behind  the  green  leaves  felt  her 
heart  stirred  with  thankfulness  as  she  looked  at 
him. 

Suddenly  the  harmony  of  the  scene  was 
disturbed.  A  child  two  or  three  years  older 
than  Charles,  and  having  a  flushed  face,  dis- 
ordered hair  and  a  restless  manner,  came  toward 
the  small  table,  listlessly  kicking  his  toes  in  the 
grass  as  he  did  so. 


THE  QUARRELSOME  GUEST 


31 


"  Baby,  baby,"  he  said,  teasiiigly,  when  he 
caught  sio-ht  of  Charles  ;  -  having  your  tea  by 
yourself;   I  eat  with  the  grown  folks." 

This  accusation  of  being  a  baby  touched 
Charles  in  a  very  tender  spot. 

He  stopped  eating,  blushed  violently,  and 
-struck  the  table  with  his  spoon,  "  Charles  is  a 
big,  big  boy,"  he  said,  angrily. 

"A  big.  big  baby,"  said  Wilfred,  mocking 
him, 

Charles'  cheeks  grew  redder  still— he  was 
inclined  to  fly  into  a  passion— then  his  attention 
was  suddenly  distracted,  and  he  stared  so  intently 
at  Wilfred  that  the  elder  boy  broke  out  with  a 
sudden  "What  are  you  looking  at?" 

"You  are  like  the  dog-faced  baboon  in 
Charles'  picture-book,"  said  the  little  one,  wist- 
fully; "can't  you  ask  God  to  give  you  anew 
face?" 

It  was  now  Wilfred's  turn  to  be  angry,  and, 
running  rudely  against  the  table,  he  pushed  it  to 
the  ground. 

Charles    sat   with    his    spoon    uplifted   and 


i 


32 


THE   QUARRELSOME   GUEST 


philosophically      surveyed     the      wreck     before 
him. 

Curious  to  see  what  he  would  do,  Mrs. 
Vaughan  did  not  come  forward  to  assist  him. 

"Wilfred,"  he  said,  rebukingly,  "you  are 
always  upsetting  Charles'  little  derangements, 
but  nurse  says  you  can't  help  it,"  then,  slipping 
from  his  chair,  he  hastened  to  restore  the  table 
to  its  four  legs. 

Wilfred  stood  by  pouting  and  clasping  his 
hands  behind  his  back. 

•'  Nurse  says  your  heart  is  quite  black," 
went  on  Charles,  in  an  awe-struck  whisper. 
"  Does  it  feel  funny,  Wilfred,  to  have  a  black 
heart?" 

"  My  heart  isn't  black,"  exclaimed  Wilfred^ 
"  Get  out  of  my  way,  you  beast !  "  and,  stretch- 
ing out  his  foot,  he  kicked  at  the  unoffending 
lamb,  who  was  standing  near  him. 

Charles  looked  desperately  about  him.  He 
could  pardon  an  injury  to  himself,  one  to  his 
sweet-tempered  pets  never  passed  unavenged, 
yet  Wilfred  was  his  guest.     Baby  that  he  was, 


The  quarrelsome  guest 


33 


tliis  matter  had  been  carefully  explained  to  him, 

and  he  fully  understood  it. 

"  Wilfred,"  he  said,  "  you  hurt  the  lamb." 
"  I  didn't,"  remarked  the  other  child. 
Charles,    without    saying    a    word,    quietly 

approached     his    companion     and     gave     him 

a    sudden,    well-directed     blow     between     the 

eyes. 

"Oh,  you  hurt,"  cried  Wilfred,  springing 
backward. 

"No,  Charles  didn't,"  observed  the  small 
child,  seating  himself  on  the  grass  beside  the 
Iamb  ;  "if  Wilfred  didn't  hurt  the  lamb,  Charles 
didn't  hurt  Wilfred." 

This  logic  was  unanswerable,  and  the  larger 
boy  was  about  to  appeal  to  brute  force,  when 
the  collie,  who  was  a  dog  of  a  serious  disposi- 
tion, and  who  thought  that  the  rough  play  had 
gone  far  enough,  seized  him  by  the  legs  of  his 
little  white  trousers  and  pulled  him  to  the 
ground. 

Wilfred  slapped  the   dog  in  the  face,  but  at 
this  he  was  saluted  by  so  warning  a  growl  that 


i      ;: 


f 


34 


THl-    QUARRELSOME   GUEST 


Mi 

!    ,1 


'    U 


he  soon  controlled  himself,  and,  calmly  accepting 
the  situation,  was  soon  enga^^ed  in  a  conversation 
with  Charles. 

"  I  had  ten  do<;.s  once,"  he  said  looking  dis- 
dainfully at  his  little  friend  who  had  never  had 
more  than  three. 

Charles  was  lost  in  admiring  wonder. 

"  They  were  blue  dogs,"  continued  Wilfred, 
••  and  they  had  six  tails  apiece." 

Charles  had  never  been  told  what  was  untrue 
and  had  never  himself  felt  the  necessity  of  telling 
a  lie,  but  at  this  extraordinary  statement  he  knew 
that  there  was  something  wron^ 

"In  Charles'  books  are  no  blue  dogs,"  he 
said  mildly. 

"  Mine  were  just  as  blue — as  blue  as  that 
grass,"  said  Wilfred. 

"Where  are  now  these  dogs  ?  "  asked  Charles. 

"  They  ran  away." 

"  I  wish  one  would  come  to  Charles,"  said 
the  little  boy,  to  whom  the  notion  of  ten  six-tailed 
dogs  running  ownerless  about  the  world  was  a 
fascinating  one. 


THE   QU/IRRELSOME   GUEST 


.^5 


"  Give  me  one  of  your  clogs,"  said  Wilfred, 
suddenly. 

"Charles  couldn't,  and  you  would  beat  them," 
said  the  child  after  a  short  struggle  with 
himself. 

"  No  I  wouldn't,"  and  Wilfred  fondled  not 
unkindly  the  silky  ears  of  the  collie  who  was  for- 
givingly licking  his  hands. 

The  little  terrier,  fearful  of  being  overlooked, 
ran  up  at  this  instant  with  a  ball  which  he  dropped 
at  Charles'  feet. 

"  We  will  play  ball,"  said  the  child,  and  he 
rolled  it  over  the  grass. 

For  half  an  hour  the  dogs  ran  to  and  fro  in 
wild  sport  and  the  children's  merry  peals  of  laugh- 
ter reached  the  house. 

"  How  happily  they  get  on  together,"  said 
Wilfred's  mother.  "  My  boy  is  not  half  as  fret- 
ful as  usual  since  we  came  here.  Your  baby's 
sweet  ways  are  influencing  him  for  good." 


IT" 


Chapter  IV 

H  msit  to  tbe  Zoo 


1 1 


milliillRilMMIHM 


A  Visit  to  the   Zoo 

[OLONEL  VAUGHAN  had  taken 
Charles  and  Wilfred  into  the  city  to 
an  exhibition  of  wild  animals. 

From  cage  to  cage  the  little 
party  went  in  a  leisurely  manner,  followed  by  an 
ever-increasing  number  of  people  whom  Colonel 
Vaughan  affected  not  to  notice,  though  he  was 
several  times  obliged  to  put  up  his  hand  to 
stroke  his  moustache  in  order  to  conceal  a 
smile. 

These  people  were  fairly  hanging  on  the 
description  of  the  various  animals  falling  in  sweet 
broken  sentences  from  Charles'  lips.  He  had 
never  before  seen  wild  beasts  except  in  his  books 
on  natural  history,  and  his  delight  at  finding  in 
bodily  presence  the  animals  whose  pictures  he 
dearly  loved,  was  so  unbounded  that  he  would 
have  entered  their  cages,  could  he  have  done  so. 

"  See,  Wilfred,"  he  cried;  "  there  is  Mr,  Lion 


l¥ 


I 


40 


^   l/ISIT   TO   THE  ZOO 


from  Africa,  and  this  is  Mr.  Lion  from  Asia, 
'cause  he  has  a  smaller  mane.  Charles  is  glad 
to  see  the  King  of  the  Cats." 

"  He  isn't  a  cat,"  said  Wilfred,  positively. 

"  Yes  he  is,"  said  the  child  ;  "  and  here  is  a 
moose  deer  and  a  white-tailed  deer.  D  is  for 
deer  that  runs  like  the  wind — don't  you  'member, 
Wilfred  ?"     . 

"  Yes,"  said  Wilfred,  who  was  only  a  trifle 
less  excited  than  Charles. 

"  And  here  is  a  camel,"  cried  Charles,  "and 
he  has  long,  long  lashes  and  strong,  strong 
teeth.       Reach  me  up,  grandfather,  to    pat  his 


nose. 


>> 


The  ugly-looking  animal  graciously  allowed 
the  child  to  stroke  him  and  even  turned  his  head 
to  look  after  him  as  he  passed  on  his  way. 

"  Z  is  for  zebra,  so  strong  and  so  wild,"  said 
Charles,  pausing  in  front  of  a  handsome  striped 
animal.  "  Grandfather,  will  you  buy  Charles  a 
zebra?" 

Some  of  the  people  in  their  train  laughed 
aloud,  and  Colonel  Vaughan,  suppressing  a  smile, 


I 


* 


< ' 


^    yiSIT   TO    THE  ZOO 


41 


drew  his  grandchild  to  the  next  enclosure,  where 
a  pink-faced  sacred  baboon  sat  huddling  himself 
miserably  under  his  grey  fur  tippet. 

"  Poor  baboon,  so  far  from  home,"  said 
Charles  with  his  face  close  against  the  bars; 
"here  is  an  apple  for  you." 

The  baboon  for  an  instant  abandoned  his 
listless  attitude,  and,  stretching  out  his  hand, 
took  the  fruit  from  the  child    with  a   caressincr 

is 

murmur 

In  the  cage  next  to  him  were  a  cock,  a  goat, 
and  a  kangaroo. 

Charles  presented  the  cock  and  the  kangaroo 
with  bits  of  biscuit,  and  then  tried  to  feed  the 
goat,  but  the  latter  was  slow  and  clumsy,  and 
the  Httle  cock  flying  over  and  above  and  around 
him  snapped  up  everything  that  was  thrown  into 
the  cage. 

Charles  clapped  his  hands  in  glee  and  could 
hardly  tear  himself  away  till  Wilfred  cried, 
'•  Look  here,  look  here !" 

A  trained  seal  was  by  turns  firing  off  a  toy 
cannon,  pkiying   a  tambourine,  and  kissing  his 


42 


^    I/ISIT    ro    THE  ZOO 


master   whom    he   surveyed    affectionately    with 
velvety  brown  eyes. 

With  a  keen  and  scrutinizin<,r  ^dance,  Charles 
looked  from  the  animal  to  its  keeper.  "  The  seal 
is  happy,"  he  said  at  last,  "and  Charles  is 
happy." 

A  terrible  g^rowling  made  them  retrace  their 
steps.  A  tamei  ;  rone  into  the  cage  with  the 
hons,  and  was  snapping  a  long  whip  to  make 
them  do  tricks. 

''Bad,  bad  man,  come  out,"  cried  Charles, 
stamping  his  foot;  "lions  do  not  love  such 
things,  they  will  eat  you." 

The  tamer  laughed  and  went  on  with  his 
dangerous  sport,  and  Charles,  with  his  little 
breast  heaving,  was  hurried  away  to  a  less  excit- 
ing part  of  the  exhibition. 

With  the  birds  and  the  monkeys  he  was 
enraptured,  but  turned  in  silent  dismay  from  an 
evil-faced  laughing  hyena,  whispering  to  his 
grandfather  an  incredulous,  "  Did  God  make  it  ?  " 
"  What  animal  is  this,  little  one?"  asked  an 
old  gentleman   in    spectacles,   who  had   pausr  d 


i 


t//   yiSIT   TO    THE   ZOO 


43 


before  a  plump  animal    that    looked    somewhat 
like  a  kangaroo. 

"  Tell  me,"  said  Charles  ;  "  I  never  saw  one 
like  it." 

"  It  is  the  brush-tailed  bettong,"  said  the  old 
gentleman,  "  who  builds  nests  of  leaves  and 
grass  that  he  rolls  up  and  carries  with  his  tail." 

"  Please  tell  him  to  carry  that  hay  across  his 
cage." 

The  bettong  would  not  do  as  he  was  asked, 
and,  curling  up  his  tiny  forepaws,  settled  back  on 
his  long  hind  ones  and  sleepily  scanned  the 
people  before  him. 

"  May  be  he  jumps  only  at  night,— -and 
sleeps  in  the  day,"  said  Charles,  turning  away  in 
disappointment. 

"  You  have  guessed  rightly,  my  small  lad," 
said  the  old  gentleman,  patting  his  head  ;  "  you 
put  some  of  us  older  ones  to  shame." 

The  little  boy  did  not  know  what  he  meant; 
he  thought  that  everyone  knew  about  animals, 
and  he  ran  after  Wilfred  to  look  at  the 
ostriches. 


If" 


f 


44 


A   VISIT   TO    THE  ZOO 


"  Oh  !  oh  !  what  elegant  birds,"  cried  Wilfred, 
as  two  dilapidated-looking  ostriches,  harnessed 
to  a  small  cart,  were  brought  into  the  ring.  "  Let 
us  have  a  ride." 

"  Would  you  like  to  ?"  and  Colonel  Vaughan 
bent  over  his  little  grandson. 

Charles  critically  viewed  the  enormous  birds. 
"  Ostriches  like  to  go  fast,"  he  said  ;  "  I  do  not 
think  they  like  to  draw  little  boys." 

"Will  you  go  on  the  elephant?"  inquired 
Colonel  Vaughan. 

"  Yes,"  said  Charles  ;   "  I  will." 

The  two  children  had  a  long  ride,  then,  fear- 
ing lest  they  might  fatigue  themselves  too  much, 
Colonel  Vaughan  took  them  home. 


/ 


Chapter  V 

Ube  Strag  Xamb 


w 


f 


The  Stray  Lamb 


FEW  days  later  Wilfred's  mother 
was  talking  to  Charles'  graiid^ 
mother. 

"  I  know  that  I  have  spoiled 
Wilfred,"  said  Mrs.  Moore,  with  tears  in  her 
eyes;  "  but  I  have  always  said  that  if  he  could 
come  under  the  influence  of  a  good  child  he 
himself  would  become  good." 

"  And  you  think  that  Charles  has  effected 
this  change  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Vaughan. 

"  Indeed,  I  do.  Your  beautiful  boy,  with  his 
intensely  sympathetic  nature,  understands  my 
child  and  has  made  another  being  of  him.  I  shall 
never  cease  to  be  thankful  that  I  cam.   here." 

"Charles  will  miss  Wilfred,"  said  Mrs. 
Vaughan. 

"  This  morning,"  continued  Mrs.  Moore.  "  I 
had  the  deep  pleasure  of  hearing  my  boy  say  of 
his  own  free  will  what  he  has  never  said  before." 


48  THE  STT^AY  LAMB 

"  And  what  was  that  ?" 

"  '  I  am  ;sorry  ' — tliey  had  quarrelled  about 
a  toy,  and  Charles  was  showing  a  sweetness  and 
a  restraint  far  beyond  his  years.  Wilfred  sud- 
denly repented,  and  throwing  his  arms  around 
Charles'  neck,  said,  '  I  am  sorry.'  " 

"  It  must  have  been  a  pretty  scene." 

"  It  was  more  than  pretty — it  was  angelic. 
Next  to  my  own  boy  I  love  yours.  What  do  you 
think  he  said  to  comfort  Wilfred?" 

*'  I  am  sure  I  do  not  know." 

**  Such  a  quaint  thing.  '  Everybody  does 
bad,'  he  remarked  sagely,  '  then  they  ask  God  to 
forgive  them,  'cept  animals.  I  guess  they  don't 
pray.  Little  doves  steal  food  and  hides  it  under 
their  wings,  and  bees  get  drunk  and  big  monkeys 
knock  little  monkeys'  heads  'gainst  trees  when 
they  get  tired  carrying  them,'  and  he  went  on 
with  a  long  list  of  animals'  failings." 

"  Just  look  at  them  now,"  said  Mrs.  Vaughan, 
and  she  pointed  to  the  lawn  where  the  two  boys 
lay  face  downwards  on  the  grass.  What  do  you 
suppose  they  are  doing  ?" 


THl-    STT^^Y  LAMB 


49 


"  Let  us  go  and  sec." 

Together  the  two  ladies  went  out,  and  arrived 
on  the  spot  in  time  to  hear  an  interesting  con- 
versation about  ants  that  the  two  small  boys 
were  carrying  on,  as  they  watched  some  busy 
black  creatures  who  were  capturing  garden-lic'e 
to  shut  up  in  cells  in  their  houses. 

All  day  the  boys  played  happily  together 
but  toward  evening  a  terrible  thing  happened. 

Wilfred,  unduly  set  up  by  his  mother's  praise, 
became  so  overbearing  with  Charles  that  Mrs' 
Vaughan,  who  never  allowed  her  grandchild  to 
be  imposed  upon,  took  him  to  her  own  room. 

The  little  visitor  had  got  to  love  Charles  as  if 
he  had  been  his  brother.     In  a  furious  temper 
to  think  that  he  should  see  him  no  more  that 
evenmg,   he    rushed    from    the    house    into    the 
garden. 

It  was  fast  growing  dark.  -  What  could  he 
do  to  appease  his  rage-to  annoy  Charles  and 
his  loving  grandmother  ?  " 

The  bleating  of  the  lamb  fell  upon  his  ear— 
the  gentle  creature  that  of  all  the  pets  was  dearest 


so 


THIi  srT{AY  LAMB 


I 


totlic  heart  of  the  younj^  master.  lie  would  let 
it  out  of  the  stable  where  it  liad  been  put  for  tlic 
night,  into  the  road.  What  a  fright  it  would 
give  Charles  to  have  his  dear  lamb  lost  ! 

He  went  into  the  stable  and  the  dogs  ran  to 
meet  him.  He  must  fasten  them  up — it  would 
never  do  to  let  Collie  and  Patty  see  him.  They 
would  immediately  drive  the  lamb  home.  So  he 
called  them  into  the  harness-room,  then  ran  out 
and  shut  the  door. 

Carefully  looking  about  to  see  that  the  coach- 
man and  the  stable  boy  were  not  near,  he  put  a 
rope  round  the  neck  of  the  lamb  and  led  it 
through  the  gate  into  the  road. 

Tiiere  it  stood,  the  faithful  creature,  its  eyes 
fixed  on  him.     It  would  not  run  away. 

He  gave  it  a  Httle  push,  then  a  kick,  but  still 
it  remained. 

What  was  he  to  do  ?  The  wicked  passion 
that  he  was  in  blinded  his  judgment.  He  walked 
along  the  road  leading  the  lamb  till  he  heard  the 
noise  of  an  approaching  cart.  Then  he  lifted  up 
his  eyes  and  saw  a  rough  looking  man  pulling  up 


THE  STT^/tY  I./fMB 


u 


his  horse  to  say,  "  Hullo,  what  are  you  doing 
with  that  lamb  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  sell  it,"  said  Wilfred  blushing 
vividly. 

"  How  much  do  you  want  for  it  ?  " 

"  Twenty-five  cents." 

"  Will  you  sell  it  to  me,  my  little  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Wilfred. 

The  man,  without  uttering  a  word  more,  sprang 
down  from  his  seat,  and  after  putting  a  piece  of 
money  in  Wilfred's  hand,  he  tied  the  lamb's  legs 
together  and  put  it  in  his  cart. 

The  pretty  animal  lifted  his  head  and 
fixed  his  eyes  piteously  on  Wilfred,  who  stood 
silently  in  the  road.  The  man  threw  a  piece 
of  canvas  over  the  back  of  the  cart  and  drove 
away. 

"  Come  back,  come  back,"  said  Wilfred 
feebly,  for  he  could  not  forget  the  look  in  the 
lamb's  eyes. 

The  man  pretended  not  to  hear  him,  and, 
whipping  his  horse  smar*J> ,  was  soon  out  of 
sight. 


8 


52 


THE  STT{AY  l.^MB 


Wilfred  frowned  at  the  twenty-five  cent  piece 
in  his  hand,  then,  casting  it  over  the  hedge,  he  ran 
into  the  house. 

A  very  quiet  boy.  he  took  his  tea  and  begged 
to  be  put  to  bed.  He  did  not  sleep  well,  but  all 
night  long  had  ugly  dreams.  The  next  morning 
he  dreaded  to  get  up,  but  at  last  he  did  so,  hop- 
ing to  find  that  by  some  means  or  other  the  lamb 
had  been  brought  back.  Perhaps  the  man  had 
repented. 

Alas,  the  man  had  not,  and  as  soon  as  Wil- 
fred entered  the  breakfast-room  he  saw  by  the 
grave  faces  of  the  older  people  that  they  knew 
what  had  happened. 

No  one  took  much  notice  of  him— they  were 
watching  Charles. 

"  The  lamb  has  been  stolen,"  whispered  his 
mother,  as  she  handed  his  porridge  to  him.  "  Is 
it  not  sad  ?     Say  nothing  about  it." 

Charles,  laughing  and  prattling  happily,  ate 
his  breakfast,  then,  waiting  politely  till  the  grown 
people  had  finished  and  his  grandmother  had 
placed  her  r.erviette  on  the  table,  he  said,  "  Come, 


THE   STT^^Y  LAMB  53 

Wilfred,  let  us  take  nis  piece  of  peach  to  Charles' 
dear  lamb." 

''  My  darling,"  said  his  grandfather,  detaining 
him,  "  you  cannot  see  the  lamb  this   morning" 

"  Why  not,  grandfather  ?  "  asked  the  chikrin 
astonishment. 

•'  Because  some  one  has  taken  him  away." 

"  No  one  would  take  the  lamb,"  said  the 
child,  shaking  his  head;  -it  would  make  him 
sad  to  leave  Charles." 

"  Some  one  has  done  it,  I  fear,"  said  Colonel 
Vaughan  ;  "  but  I  have  sent  men  to  look  for  him, 
who  will,  I  hope,  bring  him  back  to  you." 

In  incredulous  wonder  Charles  ran  out  to 
view  the  stall.  Then,  accompanied  by  his 
grandfather,  he  searched  the  grounds  about  the 
house„ 

The  distress  of  his  childish  mind,  when  he  at 
last  comprehended  the  extent  of  the  misfortune 
that  had  befallen  him.  wis  pitiful  to  see.  The 
lamb  that  had  eaten  f  ,ni  his  plate  and  drunk 
from  his  cup,  that  a  dozen  times  a  day  laid  its 
snowy  Ju:ad  on  his  shoulder,  was  really  gone; 


i  i 
V 


54 


THE   STT^AY  LAMB 


hi\ 


the  most  defenseless  of  his  pets  had  been  taken 
from  him. 

Jerry  and  the  terrier  crouched  close  beside 
him.  They  knew  well  what  had  happened. 
The  collie  had  gone  with  the  coachman  to  seek 
the  lamb. 

The  lessons  of  the  last  few  weeks  were  to 
take  effect  in  Wilfred.  He  watched  Charles 
with  a  swelling  heart,  and  at  last  burst  into  tears 
and  threw  himself  upon  him. 

"  Charles,  Charles,  I  sent  your  lamb  away." 

The  little  boy  looked  at  him  aghast.  "  You 
senl;  Charles'  lamb  away  !  "  he  repeated. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  asked  Colonel 
Vaughan,  and  Mrs.  Moore,  with  a  cry  of  dismay, 
drew  her  son  co  her. 

"  I — I  was  cross  and  I  sold  him  to  a  man," 
sobbed  W'.lfred.  "I  will  give  you  all  my  toys 
and  my  new  Noah's  ark." 

All  the  wooden  animals  in  the  world  could 
not  fill  the  place  of  the  departed  living  one. 
Charles  made  a  gesture  of  unutterable  distress 
and  turned  his  back  on  the  weeping  boy. 


THE  STT^AY  LAMB 


55 


He  was  strunr<rlin<r  to  repress  liis  emotion. 
They  all  saw  that.  The  rosy  cheeks  became 
pale  ;  an  expression  of  anguish  filled  his  dark 
eyes. 

At  last  he  rose  to  his  tiny  feet.  He  would 
not  strike  Wilfred,  but  he  would  reprimand  him. 
With  a  mixture  of  dread,  admiration  and 
surprise,  the  child's  relatives  saw  him,  in  his 
intensity  of  grief,  doing  his  best  to  control 
himself 

He  raised  his  hands,  clasped  his  fingers, 
except  the  index  ones,  which  he  pointed  straight 
at  the  guilty  boy,  and  by  turns  asked  him  ques- 
tions with  regard  to  the  abduction  of  the  lamb 
and  overwhelmed  him  with  a  flood  of  elotiuent 
reproof 

There  was  somethings©  unchildish,  so  mature 
in  this  exhibition  of  his  reasoning  poweis,  that 
his  mother  at  last  drew  him  to  her. 

"  My  baby— you  must  stop,  I  cannot  bear  to 
hear  vou." 

The  child  hid  his  head  in  her  neck.  I  fc  was 
not  thinking  of  himself.     '*  The  lamb's  heart  will 


k 


S*  THE  STT^^Y  LAMB 

break,"  he   said,  brokenly ;   "  he  is  gentle,  like 
Mary's  lamb,  and  he  loves  Charles  so." 

"You  dear,  dear  child,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Moore,  "  will  you  not  say  that  you  forgive 
Wilfred  ?  " 

Charles  looked  intently  at  the  penitent  boy 
and  shook  his  head. 

'•  Charles,"  said  Colonel  Vaughan  quietly, 
"  did  you  ever  see  the  lamb  angry?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  grandfather,"  and  the  little  one 
caught  and  pressed  his  hand  convulsively  ;  "  the 
lamb  is  always  good." 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  him  frown,  or  stamp  his 
foot,  or  bite  when  anyone  annoyed  him  ?  " 

"  Charles'  lamb  doesn't  do  that,"  said  the  lit- 
tle boy,  drawing  himself  up,  his  black  eyes  flash- 
ing, his  hands  outstretched  toward  his  grand- 
father. 

"  What  would  the  lamb  think  if  he  saw 
Charles  now?" 

The  child  was  cut  to  the  quick.  He  cast  a 
glance  round  the  little  circle,  took  in  the  grieved 
faces  of  his  grandparents  and   Mrs.   Moore,  and 


<l 


THE  ST%4Y  LAMB  57 

the  shamed  one  of  Wilfred,  then  his  better 
nature  triumphed.  "  Charles  will  be  like  the 
lamb,"  he  cried,  and  he  threw  himself  into  Wil- 
fred's arms. 

The  two  children  mingled  their  tears  together, 
ar.d  the  grown  people,  as  they  watched  them , 
felt  their  own  eyes  growing  moist. 

After  a  time  the  little  boys  became  calm. 
"  Oh  Wilfred,  lambs  are  not  bold  like  dogs," 
said  Charles,  with  a  final  sob  ;  "  let  us  go  to  look 
for  him." 

Hand  in  hand  they  went  toward  the  gate  and 
out  into  the  road. 

Colonel  Vaughan  gave  directions  to  a  ser- 
vant to  follow  them  while  he  went  to  the  city  to 
direct  the  inquiries  made  for  the  missing  pet. 


Chapter  VI 

Seatcbing  tor  tbe  Xost  Qnc 


'^ Searching:  for  the  Lost  One" 

jHE  day  wore  on.  There  was  no 
news  from  the  city,  and  Charles' 
mother  and  grandmother  watched 
him  anxiously  as  in  silent  uncom- 
plaining grief  he  wandered  about  the  garden 
and  the  road,  never  willing  to  go  far  away  from 
home,  lest  the  lamb  mi^ht  be  brought  back 
during  his  absence. 

With  keen,  sympathetic  insight  he  was  TdHow- 
ing  his  pet  in  imaginary  wanderings.  None 
knew  as  well  as  he  what  it  was  suffering. 
Fortunately  it  did  not  occur  to  him  that  it 
might  have  been  sold  to  some  butcher,  who 
would  kill  it,  and  every  member  of  the  house- 
hold was  careful  not  to  mention  this  possibility 
to  him. 

"  Mamma,"  he  said  after  lunch,  "  please  give 
Charles  a  pencil  and  some  paper;  I  nill  write  a 
letter." 


62 


SE/IRCHING   FOR  THE   LOST  ONE  " 


id  after  audibly 


They  were  given  to  him, 
uttering  a  few  broken  sentences,  he  did  not  seem 
able  to  write,  and  sat  abstractedly  tapping  his  pen 
on  the  paper  and  gazing  at  the  blank  page  before 
him. 

"  What  are  you  trying  to  do,  darling?"  said 
his  mother. 

"  Charles  wishes  to  write  to  the  angels  to  ask 
them  to  find  his  dear  lamb,  but — it  won't  come 
down." 

"  My  dearest  boy — the  ideas  are  not  in 
your  pencil.     They  are  in  your  head." 

"Charles  does  not  understand,"  said  the 
child  languidly  ;  "  perhaps  he'd  better  telephone," 
and  climbing  slowly  from  his  chair  he  made  his 
way  to  a  corner  of  the  room  and  stood  on  tiptoe 
on  a  hassock  there. 

"  Hullo,  hullo  !"  he  called,  steadily ;  "  please 
give  me  heaven." 

A  young  woman  in  the  central  office  started 
considerably  on  hearing  this  request. 

•'  Who  is  speaking?"  she  inquired. 

"Charles  is — his  little  lamb  is  lost  and  he  wants 


''SEARCHING   FOR    THE   LOST  ONE"  6j 

the  angels  to  know  'cause  grandfather's  men 
haven't  found  it—"  here  his  voice  broke  with 
a  sob— "and  the  lamb  will  be  lonely  when 
night  comes." 

"  Who  is  your  grandfather,  little  one  ?"  came 
back  the  inquiry. 

"Don't  you  know  Charles'  grandfather?" 
and  "  Central"  smiled  at  the  astonished  little 
voice. 

Here  Charles'  mother  interfered,  and  going 
to  the  telephone  explained  that  her  baby  had 
lost  his  pet,  and  wanted  the  angels  to  assist  in 
finding  it. 

"  This  sounds  interesting,"  said  "  Central" 
to  herself,  and  she  asked  the  mother  to  tell  her 
the  story. 

To  please  the  listening  child,  Mrs.  Vaughan 
did  so,  then  putting  the  receiver  in  its  place,  she 
rang  ofT  and  turned  away. 

"Take  Charles  in  your  arms,  mamma,  and 
let  him  go  to  sleep,"  said  the  child,  "  while  he  is 
waiting  for  the  angels  to  bring  back  the  lamb." 

Mrs.  Vaughan  seated  herself  in  a   rocking- 


64 


"SEARCHING   FOR    THE  LOST  ONE" 


chair  and  sang  her  boy  into  a  sweet  and  trusting 
skiniber. 

In  the  meantime  "  Central"  was  standing  in 
the  office  of  the  manager.  The  baby  voice  had 
reminded  her  of  a  little  brother  who  had  gone  to 
heaven  some  years  before,  and  her  long  lashes 
were  moist  as  she  gravely  related  what  had 
happened  and  said,  "  Can't  you  do  something  for 
him?" 

"Yes,  certainly— a  grandchild  of  Colonel 
Vaughan  you  seiy  ?  I  know  him  well.  He  is 
one  of  the  well-known  men  in  the  city.  What 
time  is  it? — one-thirty,  and  the  evening  papers 
go  to  press  at  two.  I'll  call  up  some  of  them. 
The  Colonel  is  probably  advertising,  but  a  few 
paragraphs  will  help,"  and  he  wheeled  round  on 
his  chair  to  his  private  telephone. 

Five  ..anutes  later  the  sub-editor  of  the 
Evening  Ncivs^thQ  paper  with  the  largest  circu- 
lation in  the  city — was  smiling  over  Charles' 
appeal  to  the  angels.  "  Poor  child,"  he  muttered, 
pityingly, ''just  like  my  own  boy."  Then  he 
called  aloud  "  Mr.  Birdell !" 


"SEARCHING   FOR    THE  LOST  ONE 


65 


A  tall  yov.nrr  man  with  wavy  black  hair  and 
quick  -rcy  eyes  came  in  from  an  outer  office. 

"  Insert  this  in  current  issue,"  said  the  sub- 
editor, handing  him  a  paper  on  ^^  hich  were  jotted 
some  notes.  "  and  find  that  lamb  if  he's  above 
ground." 

"When?" 
••  Now." 

The  young  man  left  the  room,  and  that  night 
he  had  no  sleep. 


Chapter  VII 

Joyful  iReturn 


*  ' 


Joyful  Return 

|FTER    a    long,  Ion-   afternoon    and 

evening,  during  which  Charles  had 

sat  in  a  patient  Hstening  attitude. 

he  at  last  had   been  persuaded  to 
go  to  bed. 

His  mother  took  him  from  his  nurse  into  her 
own  room,  and  at  his  slightest  movement  she 
was  roused  from  her  uneasy  rest. 

Just  before  daylight  she  heard  him  sigh  heav- 
ily, then  he  rolled  further  from  her  and  gave  way 
to  suppressed  sobbino- 

o  * 

The  vehemence  of  his  grief,  in  wliich   there 
was  ever  present  an  effort  of  self-control,   made 
her  clasp  her  child  to  her  and  smother  him  with 
caresses. 

"  Oh,  mamma,"  he  wailed,  "Charles  is  getting 
tired  of  waiting  and  the  lamb  will  die." 

Mrs.  Vaughan  slipped  from  her  bed  and  went 
to  the  window,  '<  Oh,  God,  have  mercy  on  my 


70 


JOYFUL   RETURN 


child,"  she  murmured,  lookinir-  out  at  the  streaks 
of  dawn  in  the  sky. 

Then  her  glance  dropped  to  the  earth.  There 
was  a  light  in  the  stable,  and,  straining  her  eyes 
as  it  flashed  to  and  fro,  she  fancied  that  its  beams 
fell  on  a  small  white  animal. 

Slipping  on  her  dressing-gown  she  was  just 
about  to  hurry  from  the  room  when  there  was  a 
low  tap  at  the  door. 

"  Eleanor,  please  speak  to  me." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  and  she  eagerly  confronted 
her  father-in-law. 

"  The  lamb  has  been  found — is  Charles 
awake  ?  " 

There  was  no  need  for  an  answer  to  that 
question.  Colonel  Vaughan  heard  a  joyful  cry 
of  "  Grandfather  !  "  and  then  there  was  a  patter- 
ing of  bare  feet  over  the  carpet,  and  a  white- 
gowned  baby  was  clasping  him  round  the  knees 
and  exclaiming  in  a  delirium  of  delight,  "  Take 
Charles  to  the  lamb — take  him  to  the  lamb." 

Charles  did  not  go  to  the  lamb — the  lamb 
came  to  him. 


if 


JOYFUL    RETURN 


71 


Walking  daintily  up  the  staircase  and  nod- 
ding its  pretty  head  at  every  step  came  the  recov- 
ered pet,  followed  by  a  dark  young  man  whose 
face  was  pleased  and  smiling. 

Mrs.  Vaughan  drew  back  in  the  doorway. 
She  will  never  forget  that  scene — the  rapturous 
joy  of  her  child  as  he  sprang  toward  the  happy 
creature  whose  fleece  was  torn  and  dirt>-,  and  who 
nosed  and  pushed  and  bleated  round  his  \'oun<T 
master  in  all  the  happiness  of  a  terrified  and  dis- 
tressed wanderer  restored  to  a  peaceful  fold — 
the  grandfather  whose  face  was  like  sunshine,  and 
the  young  man  who  stood  with  his  hat  in  his  hand, 
his  keen  eyes  taking  in  every  detail  of  the  picture. 

After  some  time  Charles  was  persuaded  to 
allow  the  lamb  to  be  put  to  bed,  but  he  insisted 
on  being  carried  to  the  stable  in  his  grandfather's 
arms  to  make  sure  that  it  had  food  and  water  and 
a  soft  couch. 

Mr.  Birdell  went  with  them,  and  a  few  min- 
utes later  took  his  leave,  turning  back  to  wave  his 
hand  at  the  beautiful  child  clinging  to  his  grand- 
father's neck. 


72 


JOYFUL   RETURN 


"What  shall  we  do  for  him?"  said 
Colonel  Vaughan  thoughtfully;  "he  has  had 
a  vast  deal  of  trouble— he  had  to  go  over 
half  the  city  and  then  out  into  the  country  in  his 
search." 

'•  Charles  \vi\\  give  him  a  picture  of  the  lamb," 
said  the  little  one. 

"  And  Charles'  grandfather  will  invest  him 
with  the  order  of  the  golden  fleece,"  said  Colonel 
Vaughan  to  himself.  "What  shall  it  be— a 
breast-pin  or  a  watch— we  shall  see,"  and  he  car- 
ried his  small  grandchild  into  the  house. 

"Hasn't  my  baby  forgotten  somethin*^?" 
asked  the  mother  as  her  ecstatic  child  was  about 
to  clamber  into  bed. 

He  knew  what  she  meant,  and  in  an  instant 
he  was  on  his  knees  by  the  bedside,  his  curly 
head  buried  in  the  counterpane,  his  tiny  hands 
outstretched. 

While  listening  to  the  broken  accents  and  the 
fervent  outpourings  of  his  grateful  little  heart  to 
its  Maker,  his  mother  was  again  reminded  of  the 
tender  loving  heart  of  her  little  one. 


^ 


f 


i 


'— Trw^nrrtmTrr"   -iITi 


JOYFUL    RETURN  73 

"  I  can  wish  no  fairer  lot  for  my  boy,"  she 
murmured,  "  than  to  live  in  an  atmosphere  of  love 
—beloved  and  honored  in  the  companionship  of 
worthy  men  and  women,  and  adored  by  children 
and  his  dumb  companions.     Then,  ah  then,  best 
of  all,  at  the  end  of  his  earthly  journey  to  have  a 
happy    entrance    into  that    kinc^rdom    where    no 
troubles  will  ever  vex  his  gentle  breast." 


^ 


